Fiber-processing apparatus

ABSTRACT

A carding roller is mounted in a support. A feed roller is mounted proximal to the carding roller for supplying fibrous material to the latter. The feed roller and support together define a supply channel for the fibrous material. Fiber supply means includes a carrier member a portion of which extends into the supply channel and defines with the feed roller a first gap and with the carding roller a second gap downstream of the first gap. Adjusting means mounts the carrier member for multidirection movements so that its aforementioned portion will change position in a sense varying at least the dimensions of at least the second gap.

United States .Patent [72] Inventors Ctibor Doudlebsky; Stanislav Kabele; Zdenek Svec; Marketa Reymanova; Stanislav Didek, Usti nad FIBER-PROCESSING APPARATUS 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl. 19/105, 57/50, 57/58.9 l 57/58.95

Int. Cl D0lg 15/40 Field of Search 19/ 105;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,360,918 l/l968 Doudlebsky etal. 19/105X Primary Examiner-Dorsey Newton Attorney-Michael S. Striker ABSTRACT: A carding roller is mounted in a support. A feed roller is mounted proximal to the carding roller for supplying fibrous material to the latter. The feed roller and support together define a supply channel for the fibrous material. Fiber supply means includes a carrier member a portion of which extends into the supply channel and defines with the feed roller a first gap and with the carding roller a second gap tteem q thiefi s aaAd t m q nt t 92!.- ri er member for multidirectional movemeptsso thatjt s aforementioned portion will change position in a sense varying at least the dimensions of at least the second gap.

w" Wurst! FllBlEl l-Pl lCESllNG Alllfiu'liAT US BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to fiber-processing apparatus, and more particularly to an apparatus for processing staple fiber structures.

it is known to supply staple fiber structures, such as fiber silver, to a carding device where the fibers are separated or combed out, and are subsequently supplied to a spinning chamber for continuous so-called break spinning.

The proper operation of the spinning chamber, which is of rotary type and operates on the underpressure principle is well irnown so that it does not require discussion herein, depends to a large extent upon the proper separation of the fibers by the fiber-separating device, that is the carding roller and its associated components. This separation, on the other hand, depends on perfect feeding of-the fibrous material to the separating device, and both the feeding arrangement and the operation of the separating device must be adjustable readily so that the operation can be adapted to the processing of various different types of fibers, different feeding speeds and the like.

In one known arrangement the fibrous sliver, as the fibrous material to be separated will hereafter be identified for the sake of convenience, is passed through the customary inlet condenser which is mounted in a tiltable component of relatively complex shape. The inlet condenser is urged by a pressure flap against the rotating feed roller and the sliver is also passed through a limiter formed in the tiltable component which latter forms a part of a combing-out zone.

Another known construction provides an inlet condenser which is mounted in a saddle-shaped component with which it is swingably but removably mounted in front of the feed roller, that is upstream thereof as seen in the direction of movement of the incoming fibrous sliver. The saddle-shaped component is mounted on a pin and located in an inlet recess of the mounting or support structure, and a portion of the saddle is subjected to yieldable pressure to provide a grip on the fibrous sliver by the action of a pressure tongue which is urged towards the feed roller. The sidewalls of the saddle have an open slot and the condenser is provided with a corresponding slot so that it can be swingably mounted on the pin.

According to other known embodiments, the pressure tongue of the last-rnentioned embodiment is terminated by a eutout the width of which equals that of an outlet opening of the inlet condenser, and still in a further embodiment the saddleshaped component is provided with a pressure nose extending into a groove of a body which enables the saddle-shaped component to swing about a pin but restricts its displacement in the direction towards the combing-out roller. in this latter construction the pressure member extends into the groove to produce a yieldable pressure on the saddle and the condenser. A pressure tongue is additionally being used and has a gripping face which is provided with a longitudinally arranged lcnurling.

The constructions briefly reviewed herebefore have various disadvantages. One of these is the fact that it is not possible to provide a simple adjustment for the distance of the pressure roller with respect to the carding roller, and to simultaneously vary the geometry of the inlet portion rearwardly of the condenser. A further disadvantage is the inadequate pressure which is exerted on the pressure member, this pressure being produced by a spring acting on a tongue of the pressure member via a ball arrangement. This results in a point-type load which is difficult to accomplish because, if even a slight deflection of the load point occurs, an unbalanced distribution of forces takes place with consequent undesirable tilting.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTlON The present invention has as its general object to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages.

More particularly, the present invention has the object of providing an arrangement of the type generally outlined above which is not possessed of the aforementioned disadvantages.

in pursuance of the above objects, and others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides in the provision, in a fiber-processing apparatus, of a support means having a carding roller mounted therein for rotation and so arranged as to card-fibrous material supplied to it. A feed roller has also mounted in the support means proximal to the carding roller and is arranged to supply fibrous material to the latter. The feed roller and the support means together define a supply channel for movement of the fibrous material to the carding roller.

Fiber supply means is mounted on the support means and includes a carrier member having a portion which extends into the supply channel proximal to the feed roller and to the carding roller and which defines with the feeding roller a first gap and with the carding roller a second gap located downstream of the first gap, the fibrous material being compelled to pass through both gaps successively. A fiber-supplying condenser is carried by the carrier member for movement therewith.

Finally, we provide adjusting means associated with the fiber supply means and mounting the carrier member on the support means for multidirectional adjustment of the position of the carrier member so that the portion of the latter which is located in the supply channel changes location in a sense vary ing at least the dimensions of at least one of the aforementioned gaps.

This adjusting means is, in accordance with the invention, an eccentric pin, as will be further discussed. In addition, and in another embodiment, the eccentric pin may be supplemented with an eccentric bushing.

The advantage of the construction according to the present invention is that it provides easy adjustment of the spacing of the portion of the carrier member, that is the pressure portion, with respect to the carding roller. It further provides the possibility to vary the size of the gap or wedge-shaped space formed between the pressure portion and the feed roller. When double eccentricity is utilized, that is when both the pin and the bushing are used, it is possible both to adjust the spacing of the pressure portion of the carrier member from the carding member as well as to maintain the configuration or geometry of the wedge-shaped opening unchanged.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRlEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. l is a fragmentary partially sectioned and somewhat diagrammatic elevation of an apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the eccentric pin used in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view showing the support, the carrier member and the eccentric pin as used in the apparatus of FIG. l;

FIG. Al is a view similar to FIG. 3 but with the support omitted and with an eccentric bushing shown in addition to the eccentric pin; and

FIG. 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic perspective view of a condenser for use in the apparatus of FIG. l.

DESCRlPTlON OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing first FIGS. l and 2, it will be seen that a body or support means i of a separating arrangement is provided with a circular recess 2. A known combing-out or carding roller 3 is disposed in the recess 2 for rotation about its longitudinal axis, and the outer circumference of the roller 3 is provided in known manner with suitable needles or teeth, which contact the fibers of the fibrous sliver supplied to the carding roller 35 and separate them.

The support 1 is further provided with inlet recess 5 having an opening 6 wherein there is mounted for rotation a feed roller 7 which is located in close proximity to the carding roller 3. The inlet recess 5 communicates with the recess 2 as shown. In the lower portion of the recess 5 the support 1 is provided with a bore 1a (compare FIGS. 3 and 4) and in this recess 1a there is received a portion of a bushing 9. The bushing 9 is provided with a bore 9a which is eccentric withrespect to the axis of the bushing which is received in the recess la, and which is therefore also eccentric with respect to the recess la. Received in the recess 9a of the bushing 9 is an eccentric pin 3, or more particularly a portion 8b of the pin 8, with the portion 8a, which is eccentric with respect to the portion 8b, being located outside the bore 9a.

The portion 8a of the pin 8 is in turn received in the bore 10a provided in the free end of the carrier member 10 which latter constitutes a pressure member in form of a saddleshaped configuration and carries a yoke 11 which holds removably a known condenser 12 (compare FIG. 4). The condenser 12 is surrounded on three sides by the yoke 11 and on the fourth side by the member 10 the upper portion of which is configurated as a pressure tongue 13 (compare FIGS. 1 and 3).

The support I is further provided with a hole 14 which communicates with the recess 5 in the illustrated manner and wherein there is located a compression spring 15 a portion of which fits into a recess 16 provided in the saddle-shaped pressure member or carrier member 10. At the outer side of the hole 14 a screw 17 is threaded into the hole and, depending upon the depth through which it is threaded to this hole 14, the screw serves to compress the spring 15 to a greater or lesser extent. The use of the spring 15 and the manner in which it acts upon the member 10, in conjunction with the fact that the member 10 is mounted on the portion 8a of the spring 8 via the completely enclosed bore 10a, rather than via an open groove, assures that the member 10 cannot tilt laterally and is firmly mounted.

The feed roller 7 and the carding roller 3 are both located in the recesses 6 and 2 of the support 1, respectively, and the feed roller 7 forms with the support 1 a channel through which fibrous sliver advances to the carding roller 3. Into this channel extends the free portion of the member 10, as shown in FIG. 1, and between this portion and the circumference of the carding roller 3 there is defined a gap A, whereas between this portion and the circumference of the feed roller 7 there is formed a wedge-shaped gap B.

Fibrous sliver is fed in known manner into the hollow condenser 12 for condensing by the same, and then moves through the outlet opening of the condenser 12 (compare FIG. 4) into clamping engagement between the feed roller 7 and the pressure or carrier member 10. This occurs in the gap 8. From there the material moves into engagement with the teeth 4 of the carding roller 3 which open up the fibers and convey them along a nonillustrated channel to a nonillustrated known spinning chamber.

If, now, it is desired to adjust the distance A, that is the spacing of the pressure tongue 13 relative to the carding roller 3, the pin 8 is turned in the bore la and is arrested in the selected position by means ofa setscrew 18 (see FIG. 1). The spring 15 exerts a yieldable pressure on the member 13. Thus, the distance A can be adjusted so as to be the same relative to the points of the needles 4 of the carding roller.

If it is desired to adjust the distance A without varying the geometry of the wedge B, that is of the inclination of the outlet opening of condenser 12 with respect to the circumference of the feed roller 7, then the eccentric pin 8 is used in conjunction with the bushing 9, as shown in FIG. 4, it is being pointed out that otherwise the use of the bushing 9 is not necessary and the same could be omitted. Of course, it is also possible to change both the distance A and to thereby simultaneously vary the geometry or size of the wedge-shaped gap B. When the bushing 9 is utilized in conjunction with the pin 8, then the distance A can be changed and the geometry or size of the wedgeshaped gap B can be maintained at the same time.

It Will be appreciated that the necessary ad ustments are made, as already suggested above, by turning the portion 8b of the pin 3 in the bore 1a of the support 1, or by turning the portion 8b in thebore 9a of the bushing 9 when the same is used, or again by turning the bushing 9 of the bore la, or finally by turning the bushing 9 of the bore la and also turning the portion 8b of the pin 8 in the bore of the bushing 9. It will also be clear from FIG. 1 that the once-selected position of the member 10-and thereby the dimension and/or shape of the gap Bis obtained and maintained against the bias of spring 15 by engagement of the free end of screw 19 with the member 11 as shown, thereby preventing the spring 15 from pressing the member 10 into abutment with the feed roller 7.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a usefulapplication in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a fiber-processing apparatus, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

We claim:

1. In a fiber-processing apparatus, in combination, support means; a carding roller mounted in said support means for rotation and arranged to ,card fibrous material supplied to it; a feed roller mounted in said support means proximal to said carding roller and arranged to supply fibrous material to the latter, said feed roller and said support means together defining a supply channel for movement of the fibrous material to said carding roller; fiber supply means mounted on said support means and including a carrier member having a portion extending into said supply channel proximal to said feed roller and said carding roller; spacing means spacing said portion of said carrier member from said feed roller and said carding roller so that said portion defines with the former a first gap and with the latter a second gap downstream of said first gap so that the fibrous material must pass through both gaps successively; a fiber-supplying condenser carried by said carrier member for movement therewith; and adjusting means associated with said fiber supply means and mounting said carrier member on said support means for multidirectional adjustment of the position of said carrier member so that said portion of the latter changes location in a sense varying at least the dimensions of at least one of said gaps.

2. In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, said adjusting means comprising eccentric means operative for varying the dimensions of said second gap while leaving the geometry of said first gap unchanged.

3. In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, said adjusting means comprising eccentric means operative for varying the dimensions of both of said gaps.

4. In an apparatus as defined in claim I, said adjusting means comprising eccentric means operative for varying the dimensions of said second gap and for simultaneously changing the geometry of said first gap.

5. In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said carding roller and said feed roller are both mounted for rotation about spaced parallel axes; and wherein said adjusting means comprises a mounting pin for said carrier member, said mounting pin having a first portion received in a bore in said support means axially parallel to said axes, and a second portion eccentric with reference to said first portion and received in a bore in said carrier member, said pin being turnable in and arrestable relative to said bore in said support means.

6. In an apparatus as defined in claim 5, said adjusting means further comprising a bushing received in said bore in said support structure and having a bushing bore eccentric relative thereto, and said first portion of said pin being received in said bushing bore, said pin being turnably adjustable relative to said bushing, and said bushing being turnably adjustable relative to said support means. 

1. In a fiber-processing apparatus, in combination, support means; a carding roller mounted in said support means for rotation and arranged to card fibrous material supplied to it; a feed roller mounted in said support means proximal to said carding roller and arranged to supply fibrous material to the latter, said feed roller and said support means together defining a supply channel for movement of the fibrous material to said carding roller; fiber supply means mounted on said support means and including a carrier member having a portion extending into said supply channel proximal to said feed roller and said carding roller; spacing means spacing said portion of said carrier member from said feed roller and said carding roller so that said portion defines with the former a first gap and with the latter a second gap downstream of said first gap so that the fibrous material must pass through both gaps successively; a fibersupplying condenser carried by said carrier member for moVement therewith; and adjusting means associated with said fiber supply means and mounting said carrier member on said support means for multidirectional adjustment of the position of said carrier member so that said portion of the latter changes location in a sense varying at least the dimensions of at least one of said gaps.
 2. In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, said adjusting means comprising eccentric means operative for varying the dimensions of said second gap while leaving the geometry of said first gap unchanged.
 3. In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, said adjusting means comprising eccentric means operative for varying the dimensions of both of said gaps.
 4. In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, said adjusting means comprising eccentric means operative for varying the dimensions of said second gap and for simultaneously changing the geometry of said first gap.
 5. In an apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said carding roller and said feed roller are both mounted for rotation about spaced parallel axes; and wherein said adjusting means comprises a mounting pin for said carrier member, said mounting pin having a first portion received in a bore in said support means axially parallel to said axes, and a second portion eccentric with reference to said first portion and received in a bore in said carrier member, said pin being turnable in and arrestable relative to said bore in said support means.
 6. In an apparatus as defined in claim 5, said adjusting means further comprising a bushing received in said bore in said support structure and having a bushing bore eccentric relative thereto, and said first portion of said pin being received in said bushing bore, said pin being turnably adjustable relative to said bushing, and said bushing being turnably adjustable relative to said support means. 